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A choirmaster at a top music school was today jailed for six years for sexually abusing a pupil who went on to take her own life.

Michael Brewer, 68, was convicted last month of a string of historic sex attacks on Frances Andrade, 48, when she was an underage student at the Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester.

The mother-of-four, from Guildford, was forced to relive her ordeal as she gave evidence over two days at Manchester crown court in January.

A week later her body was discovered at her home. Brewer, of Selly Oak, Birmingham, was jailed today after being convicted of five counts of indecently assaulting Mrs Andrade between the ages of 14 and 15 when she became his “sexual plaything”.

The court heard abuse took place in his office and in his camper van when he drove from the school grounds and got her to perform a sex act. She was also indecently assaulted at 18 by Brewer’s then wife, Kay, 68, when she was a guest at their home. Kay Brewer, also a teacher, was today jailed for 21 months.

Passing sentence, Judge Martin Rudland said there was evidence Brewer had also groomed other girl pupils at Chetham’s. Mr Rutland said: “You were, and may still be, a predatory sex offender. You offended against Frances Andrade when she was but 14 years old and you were about 34. She was a child in your care.

"You used your powerful position to select and groom your victims. The situation was compounded by the fact that the position you occupied enabled you to do so, as you chose, with little, if any, prospect of challenge from anyone else.”

His victim had became used to “a routine of sexual misadventure” that intensified as she reached 15.

The judge told Mrs Brewer: “You have for many years clothed yourself in a cloak of Christian respectability ... However, beneath your latter-day outward good character and desire to care for others, you conceal a secret. Namely that you preyed upon and exploited a young girl who was vulnerable, pliable and whom you knew was also being exploited sexually by your husband.”

The family of Mrs Andrade said they believed the court system had let her down and criticised her cross-examination which they believe drove her to take her own life.